Once inside he handed his hat and gloves to Harrison.
“Really James, I’ve never known you to be one who day dreamed.” His aunt released her cloak.
“I was not day dreaming. I was thinking.”
“About Lady Caroline?” Elsbeth’s smile appeared entirely too innocent.
“Where did you learn to debate? I have not instructed you in that.”
She grinned. “Mostly Lord Mabry. He was forced to learn by Lady Joanna, but yesterday I had the opportunity to debate with her. I just love how her mind functions.”
His aunt saved him from responding. “Upstairs with you Lady Bluestocking. I’ll have hot chocolate sent up and join you.”
Elsbeth clapped her hands together. “Just what I need. Thank you.” She kissed her mother on the cheek and ran up the stairs in a most unladylike way.
His aunt laid her hand on his arm. “May I speak to you briefly?”
“Of course.” He led her to the library where a fire was ordered every evening if there was a chill in the air. The parlor, the lesser used room in the evenings, would be too cold. He walked to the chairs before the fire and motioned to one.
She declined, but availed herself of the fire by moving before it. “I wish to speak to you about Lady Caroline.”
He raised his brows as he moved to the other side of the fireplace. “Not Lady Joanna?”
She smiled. “No. I think Elsbeth did enough talking on that subject.” She held her hands out to the fire. “I just wanted to tell you that I was relieved you didn’t speak to Lord Holburn yet about his daughter.”
“Relieved? Do you not care for Lady Caroline? I thought you considered her quite marriageable.”
“Oh, I do think she would make a gentleman a perfect wife one day.”
When she didn’t continue, he filled in the rest. “But not for me. Could you tell me why your opinion has changed?”
“I don’t know how to explain it. She’s too perfect, I guess. Almost to the point where she seems not quite human. There is no emotion, and if there is, it is hidden. You deserve a woman who would be honest with you about what she’s feeling. I wish I could explain it better. Call it instinct, but I don’t think you would be happy with her.”
There was a score of responses he could give his aunt, but this was not a debate. She simply felt a certain way. “I appreciate you confiding in me. I do give your counsel weight, though in this instance the final decision will be mine. Tell me. If I were to marry her, could you accept that?”
His aunt took a deep breath. “Yes, I could. Elsbeth will marry soon, and I’m sure I will be in her household, so my interactions with Lady Caroline would be few. It is not that she is difficult to be around after all.”
Though he always knew his aunt would live with his cousin when she married, having it said out loud and as something soon anticipated, startled him into the reality of his future position. Whoever he married would be the only other adult in his home besides the servants. He was so used to his aunt in his life that he found himself unable to imagine it. “I will miss you.”
She smiled warmly and placed her hand on his cheek. “Not more than I will miss you. You have been the son I never had. I’m so proud of the man you have become. Though I did little to shape you, I hope I helped make your growing years more comfortable.”
Emotion filled his chest. It was such an unusual occurrence that he found himself at a loss for words. All these years, he had railed against fate for first taking his mother away from him, when in fact, he had gained a mother who loved him like he was her own. Without thinking, he stepped to his aunt and enfolded her in his arms. He lowered his head and whispered in her ear. “You have been my true mother.”
Her arms tightened around him for a moment, then she stepped back, tears in her eyes. “I’d best get the hot chocolate ordered. I still have one fledging bird who needs to take flight, and she, I’m afraid, is going to need a lot more hovering than you ever did.”
He nodded. “I will be happy to help you with that after her ball. My instinct is telling me we will have to combine our efforts to insure she lands in the right place.”
“Thank you.” She turned and headed for the door. Before leaving she looked at him. “Remember, there is no rush for you to make a decision.” Then she slipped out.
He stared at the flames. His aunt was correct, there was no immediate hurry to find a bride, but he didn’t want to spend another season in London. Was avoiding another season worth the risk of marrying the wrong woman? Then again, he couldn’t be sure that Lady Carolinewasthe wrong woman. Nevertheless, he would be more intentional in his observations of the lady. His aunt would not have brought up her concerns unless they were genuine and disturbing.
As for his cousin, she had obviously been spending far too much time with the Mabry family. He grinned. He felt a certain amount of pride in her debate skills. Did she really feel Joanna was poor marriageable material or was she playing devil’s advocate? Though he had no intention of marrying Joanna, he did not like others speaking poorly of her. Any man should consider himself fortunate to have her for a wife. Perhaps he could show thetonthat the Huntington family fully approved of Lady Joanna.
There was, of course, her own aversion to marriage, but that was sure to dissipate if the right man were interested. He glanced over at the bookcase behind his desk where the space remained for his missing book. Unless she had an aversion to the marriage bed. Is that why she took the book? Knowledge was indeed power. Did she hope to be knowledgeable about relations between men and women?
Even as the thought rose, he could envision her looking at the illustrations. How far had she read, or had she seen only the first few illustrations and closed the book for good? He shook his head. Not Joanna. She would not allow her own sense of propriety stand in the way of learning something new. But if she didn’t plan to marry, what would be the purpose if she couldn’t apply that knowledge?
And if she did marry? Would her husband be pleased or displeased that she knew so much? Among theton, it could be either. Irritation flashed through him and he clenched his fists. Only a fool wouldn’t appreciate all she brought to a marriage. He stalked to the sideboard and poured himself a scotch. In one gulp, he threw it back. The burning from the drink did little to chase away the irritableness in his gut. It was illogical to be so concerned.
